acontritemess | Little birds have to jump out of the nest if they're going to fly

Little birds have to jump out of the nest if they're going to fly

[She didn't actually get nervous until they'd passed Ohio. The next step marked the furthest from home she'd ever been. She trusted Freya, at least somewhat, but home wasn't a place, a concept really was what it was. Home was her family, and she was leaving it on the other side of the country. It was terrifying, but she was equally excited, since she was seeing things she'd never had a chance to see before.

The country changed as they made their way across it, and as they neared the mountainous and wide-open country of Montana, she was in awe. It was just like every postcard she'd ever seen, and she was having a hard time thinking it was real.]

....it's so beautiful...

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[Freya can't stop the small burst of nervous laughter from her lips.]

Ranger Vaughn? I am not calling David that.

[Cat laughs as she takes Freya's hand, leading her toward what looked like a shopping district.]

He's your cousin. I don't think you have to.

[AND MOVING FORWARD!

Freya has an ice cream in one hand and a little spoon in the other. Her ice cream is vanilla and it's delicious. There is a smile spread across her lips, her previous depression all but forgotten.]

I can't believe that I remembered his favorite ice cream. I'm awesome. [She's proud of herself.

Freya pushes open the door with her spoon hand letting Cat slip into the building first. Her hands were full, its polite. When they step inside they are greet by a receptionist.]

Where is David's office? Sorry. Ranger Vaghun

And saved the knowledge for the forces of good and stuff, which I completely support.

[Cat has actually forgotten Kevin was coming, at least for the moment, and laughs when Freya refers to David as 'Ranger Vaughn" to the receptionist.

The woman, in her mid-thirties with blond hair and sparkling eyes, laughed as well and looks back toward the hallway behind her.]

Why don't your girls stay here? I'll be right back.

[She heads down the hall, though not far, to an open office toward the right. Human ears wouldn't hear it, but their ears were far from human.]

Joe, I've got two girls here asking about Sleeping Beauty. What should I tell them?

[There's a short pause, then a deep, male voice.] Little girl, blond? Taller, brunette? Adorable?

Sounds like them.

I'll handle it. [There's the sound of a door being opened, with no effort to keep it quiet, and he doesn't shut it behind him.]

David. Time to wake up, son.

[David doesn't remember falling asleep. In fact, he doesn't remember the last hour when his head was planted firmly on the desk with a small thread of droll gathering beneath his chin. He doesn't sleep well in chairs and the imagine isn't flattering.]

Joe?

[He quickly realizes where he is and snaps awake.]

Oh Shit! I'm so sorry. I didn't sleep much last night.

[David rubs his eyes stifling a yawn.]

What time is it?

[Joe nods, leaning against the side of his desk and crossing his arms.]

Yeah, that much was obvious. Your cousin and her friend are here for you. I think they brought you something.

[David blinks, trying to remember that morning more clearly. He remembers Cat first and a shiver creeps down his spine. He hasn't forgotten her smell, even while sleeping.]

Something?

[He asks a little groggily, looking up at Joe.]

If you're easy on me for sleeping I might start slacking off.

[David stands and stretches his arms overhead. Yeah, that was a really good nap.]

[Joe laughs and shakes his head.] I'll let you slack off just this once, but your fans are waiting. [And he points off toward the lobby.]

Fan’s… really? Oh! Cat and Freya. [He does remember telling them to stop by and then he remembers sleeping. Oh, now he feels like a jerk. He adjusts his collar and then quickly organizes the papers he’d fallen asleep on. With that done he flash Joe his ‘prince charming’ smile and then dashes from the office.

He isn’t surprised to see Freya or Cat but he is surprised to see ice cream.]

Oh, you use the Vaughn scoop? There is a funny story about that actually.

[He hears a high pitched throat clear and turns to see the receptionist, who is watching them with interest.]

Aren’t you going to introduce us?

[David suddenly blanks under the pressure. He has no idea what to say, luckily Freya speaks up.]

I’m his long lost dead cousin Freya and then is my best friend Cat.

[Freya flashes David a smile which suggests that the introduction wasn’t so hard. His own smirk is the only reply that Freya gets in return.]

Long lost dead cousin...?

[The receptionist looks confused and turns to David for an answer.]

It's a long story.

[Cat retorts, to keep David from feeling more awkward than he probably already does.]

...do you still like strawberry?

[David smiles at Cat when she saves him. He doesn't need his coworkers asking about his life. As it is, he's managed to keep a decent distance between his life and his work. So far only Joe bridges that gap.]

It's one of my favorites. I like mint but it only comes with chocolate and... well...

[His smile widens at the memory, or at Cat. David isn't sure which.]

Thanks.

[He pulls his gaze towards Freya.]

I didn't think you'd remember.

So mean.

[David laughs before turning to the receptionist.]

Sorry. I'm off for the day. I don't think anyone will call for me anyway. See you later. Tell Joe bye for me.

[The receptionist looks more than a little surprised that David's taking a day off, but nods.]

Alright. You guys have fun.

[Cat nods, offering the ice cream to David.]

We will. Thank you for being so welcoming!

[He takes the ice cream and then nods to the receptionist. He flashes her an apologetic smile before leading the pair of girls from the building.]

Everything go okay?

[He asks Cat while taking a small bite of the frozen sweet treat. He doesn't know how her call went and the moment he asks he regrets it. Freya tenses and looks like she's ready to bolt so he quickly rephrases his question.]

I mean looking around town. Obviously you found ice cream. She anything else?

[David smiles at Freya.]

Things have probably changed since you've been here last.

[Freya doesn't reply but nods.]

[Cat notices, at least in the periphery of her mind, that David might be the most adorable while eating ice cream, but he asked a serious question and he needed to know the answer to it regardless.]

Um...not...really? Toby apparently thinks he needs to send one of our brothers to check on me.

[David blinks, clearly confused.]

Huh, okay. Well if we have more guests they'll probably have to stay with me at my place. [Cat and Freya are sharing the only spare room.] But we'll worry about that later.

[He smiles at Freya, feeling his instincts urging him to protect her.]

Now we get to go fishing. [He takes a bite of his ice cream and ushers them into the car.] And eat ice cream.

[David really likes ice cream and he can't have it at home.]

[Cat beams at him. That was her philosophy. You couldn't control what was coming, so you just had to make the best of the time you had.]

Should we get Peter and James some?

It'll melt before we get back.

[Though they will need to hide the trash.]

I'll suggest it for afterwards. Besides picking up them, everyone should pick up a change of clothes.

[David turns over the engine and begins to back up. With the ice cream cup in one hand and his spoon sticking out of his mouth, he turns onto the road.]

[Cat has trouble keeping her eyes off of him, simply because he might be the most adorable thing she's seen in a long time, aside from his cousins. She nods at his instruction, though, smiling. Kevin being on his way not withstanding, she was actually looking forward to learning to fish.]

Do you...feel better?

[After your nap, I mean.]

Edited 2016-06-03 13:46 (UTC)

[David turns onto the road and as they drive out of town his gaze flicks back to Freya. Freya's eyes are on the setting and her expression is blank. He's worried though he won't press the matter, he doesn't want to scare his cuison. At Cat's question he blinks and glances over towards her.

A sheepish smile falls over his lips as he looks at her.]

Ah, yeah. Sorry about that. I did get some work done. [A very little amount.] I don't think Joe will let me live that down though.

[He's just happy that Cat hadn't brought up the sleeping beauty bit.]

[Cat looks over to him at his apology, frowning.]

Why are you sorry? You were exhausted.

[Her eyes also flick to Freya in the backseat and her expression becomes concerned but she doesn't say anything, not wanting to push her friend.]

[Freya really likes the silence and she uses the rest of the car ride to collect her thoughts and sort through them. She's always been the sort of person who thought a lot and it usually helped her keep things categorized. She makes lists and then filters them away, her gaze deep and contemplative.

David doesn't want to interrupt her thoughts and while he's focused on Cat his gaze occasionally flicks back to his cousin. He can't help but worry, he's the alpha and Freya is part of his family.]

Exhausted is one way to put it. [He agrees in an easy tone.] But it's my own fault really. [Sort of his own fault, he can't help but be the fool around Cat. He wonders what sort of impression he's making her on, if she's even interested. He hasn't actually been interested in mating or anything like that and now he can't erase the thought from his mind. She's beautiful and interesting and different and caring.]

I'm good to go for fishing though. Let's face it, we'll all need a lot of energy to keep up with James and Peter. Those two are very much like their father. [Wild is the best way that David can put it. Their father had been Dave's younger brother and he'd been the most secluded of their family.]

Have you ever fished as a wolf? It can be tricky.

[He doesn't remember asking her.]

[Cat smiles, her dimples shining, even as she frowns internally in concern for her friend. She knows Freya well enough by now to know she needs time to think if she's not going to run, though, so she leaves her to her thoughts.]

Yeah, they're a handful, aren't they? [She laughs before shaking her head.] I have not. It'll be a new experience! [One she's very excited about.]

[David continues to smile feeling a little bit like a fool the wider his grin becomes. He’s really looking forward to this.]

They are. Well, don’t worry about getting it on your first try. It’s a lot harder than it looks. [David makes the task look easily while Peter and James make the task look comical.]

Do you have a change of clothes or should I ask Amanda for something? I think you two are about the same size. [He clearly hasn’t caught onto Amanda’s distaste for Freya and Cat.]

Nobody ever gets things on their first try. I'll keep trying.

[Because I know I'm going to suck.]

Um...I have a change of clothes. You don't have to bother Amanda.

That's a good attitude and okay.

[David nods as he pulls in front of the house. It's more lively now with shouts and hollers coming from inside. The window to David's room is closed and Singer is sitting with her nose against it looking very forlorn. When David's jeep rolls up she starts to work on the lock of the window with her nose and then, with Steve's help, the window is shimming open.

A soft chuckle echoes from his lips as he puts the jeep in park and watch as five dogs come bounding outside.]

Want to help me round up the kids? Then we can get Peter and James too.

[Freya leans forward and as the car stops she slips out. She doesn't say anything to the pair but begins pacing, waiting for them to leave. She really wants to shift and run but she's trying not to think about it.]

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next day...

That next day...

That next day...

That next day...

That next day...

That next day...

That next day...

That next day...

That next day...

That next day...

That next day...

That next day...

That next day...

That next day...

That next day...

That next day...

That next day...